Drawing in Business With Sweet Temptations

What he wishes he knew before: "The cyclical nature of the chocolate business," Nelson laughs. "I had never known anybody in 51 years who actually gave up things for Lent. For a month between Mardi Gras and Easter, it was dead in here. It took me a while to understand what was going on. Well, it turns out people were giving up chocolate for Lent. I thought everyone would want chocolates all the time."

Dedicated customers: "People who are looking for fine chocolate," Nelson says. "Chocolate that is healthier than what you might get from Hershey (HSY Quote) or something like that. [My customers] tend to look for dark chocolate, organic chocolate, chocolate without preservatives."

Some product favorites: "We have chocolate with pomegranate, chocolate with chipotle cinnamon," Nelson says. "One of the most popular flavors is fleur de sel caramel, which is chocolate with sea salt and caramel." The peanut butter and jelly truffles, brie truffles and cognac truffles are other popular items, Nelson says.

In terms of his artwork, which sells in the range of $600 and $1,000, he's sold a number of floral-themed pieces.

Parting advice: "Follow your passion and open a business that reflects your passion," Nelson says. "Have the product and the service reflect your personality, and it makes it so much easier to sell."